Thinking Of Applying To Harvard? How To Get Into Harvard (Beyond The Numbers)
Harvard is one of the top schools in the world, so they are looking for more than a high test score and good grades.
Show that you have the ability and drive to grow!
Be diverse in your activities and interests!
Don’t be afraid to share who you are.
Think about what you can contribute to the Harvard community!
Want to get into Harvard?
Harvard is one of the MOST selective schools in the nation, with an early decision admission rate of 8.74% and a regular admissions rate of 3.4%. Of 56,937 applicants in 2023, only 1,966 were admitted, the second-lowest college admissions rate in their history.
3.4% may sound like an intimidating number, yet it is important to remember that the strength of your profile has a lot of influence over whether your probability of being accepted is much higher or lower than that.
Harvard Admissions states “There is no formula for gaining admission to Harvard. Academic accomplishment in high school is important, but the Admissions Committee also considers many other criteria, such as community involvement, leadership and distinction in extracurricular activities, and personal qualities and character. We rely on teachers, counselors, and alumni to share information with us about an applicant's strength of character, their ability to overcome adversity, and other personal qualities.”
While it is important to remember that there is NO SUCH THING as a “typical Harvard student”, let’s break down each category that Harvard admissions officers use to assess the strength of your application.
Growth and Potential
It’s common knowledge that a large part of your application will hinge on your past academic performance. Although Harvard waived test scores for applications for applicants this year, in 2023, the average Harvard SAT score of admitted freshmen was 1530. For the ACT, it was 33-36. The average GPA of admitted students was 3.95 on an unweighted 4.0 GPA scale.
However, this category also applies to the ambition and willingness to improve that an applicant demonstrates in all facets of their life.
The Harvard Admissions Committee wants to see positive upward trends in your grades, test scores, and activities. They want to be confident that you will be successful at Harvard and will represent the school well as an alumnus.
If you have low test scores or low grades, it’s not the end of the world! Focus on improving and raising them consistently, even if it’s by a small amount!
Interests and Activities
What’s most important here is that you find something that you are interested in and passionate about.
All admissions officers, especially the ones from Harvard, can tell when you are participating in an activity just to fill up your resume. What they want to see is that you take full advantage of the time and opportunities offered to you and that you showcase your drive to make an impact by taking on leadership roles in these activities.
So get out there and find something that is truly meaningful to you whether it be volunteering at your local animal shelter, playing on the soccer team, or joining the debate team. Don’t think of it as doing a club activity because you have to, focus on finding something you enjoy!
Character and Personality
This category isn’t something that you can just cultivate in a day because it refers to who you are on the inside. This is your personal narrative and your inner-self that the Harvard Admissions Committee is hoping to get a sense of through your application.
Therefore, it is important to be thoughtful and be specific when writing your essay. Take a moment for self-reflection or ask your friends and family for their thoughts, then help admissions officers understand who that person is in an engaging and unique way.
Another way to convey this is to ask someone who truly knows you to write your recommendation letters.
Contribution to the Harvard Community
Harvard builds a diverse class each year, both in terms of interests and backgrounds, and there is no way of knowing exactly what they are looking for in a given year. However, the Harvard Admissions Committee will favor students who will have a positive and significant impact on their roommates, classmates, teammates, and teachers.
Try to imagine how you will spend those next few years at Harvard and how you will fit into the tightly-knit community. What sort of change will you initiate? What unique perspective will you bring to the table that will make the Harvard community all the more colorful? Once you have that vision in your head, try to paint that picture for the admissions officers.
If it’s your dream to go to Harvard, then start thinking about how you can tailor your application to these four categories that the Harvard Admissions Committee HIGHLY CONSIDERS when deciding which students to accept.
For more college application tips, check out our blog!
